Archer Aviation raises $850 million after Trump signs executive orders backing air taxis

Archer Aviation just locked in $850 million in new funding—an eye-popping amount that came shortly after former President Donald Trump signed off on executive orders aimed at accelerating the rollout of electric air taxis in the U.S.

The funding follows the White House’s announcement of an eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, which aims to fast-track the deployment of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft across the country. Trump’s orders also take aim at strengthening the U.S. defense against drones and reigniting interest in supersonic commercial jets.

“This Executive Order is a seminal moment for Archer and the eVTOL industry,” Archer CEO and founder Adam Goldstein said in a news release. “We now have the strongest balance sheet in the sector and the resources we need to execute both here in the U.S. and abroad. Archer’s future couldn’t be any brighter.”

With the fresh capital, Archer says its liquidity now stands at around $2 billion, giving it significant room to push forward on engineering, regulatory approvals, and commercial launches both at home and overseas.

The raise follows a $300 million round earlier this year led by institutional investors, including funds managed by BlackRock. The momentum has been building fast. Back in April, Archer revealed plans to launch an air taxi network in New York City through a partnership with United Airlines. The company has also been tapped as the official air taxi service for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

In 2022, United Airlines signed a deal with Archer to deliver 250 flying taxis in 2025 to meet the $1 billion order from United Airlines

As Archer gears up for LA28, it plans to work closely with the White House, the Department of Transportation, and the FAA to align the new pilot program with its rollout. The company says collaboration across government and industry will be critical if the U.S. wants to lead in this emerging sector.

Before going public, Archer was one of many players in the increasingly crowded eVTOL space, where startups are racing to bring battery-powered aircraft to market as the airline industry faces pressure to clean up its emissions. Archer’s biggest competitors include Joby Aviation and Germany-based Lilium.

Founded in 2020 by Adam Goldstein and Brett Adcock, the California-based company is building electric aircraft designed to improve urban mobility. Archer’s vehicles are built to carry four passengers, travel up to 60 miles, and hit speeds of 150 mph—all while keeping noise to a minimum.